Walker Lake, near Port Cartier, Quebec, Canada Photograph by Lynda Dredge/Used with permission of the Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada   Eastern North America: Eastern Canada Boreal Forests/Taiga   188,000 square miles (486,900 square kilometers) -- about the same size as Colorado and Idaho combined Critical/Endangered

· Coastal Influences
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Coastal Influences

This is some of the highest terrain on the east coast of Canada. Some peaks of the Appalachian range are higher than 3,300 feet (1,000 m) above sea level. Heavy fog tends to blanket the eroded coastal areas of this ecoregion. Balsam fir is the dominant tree species, although white spruce is most common along coastlines affected by sea salt spray. Mosses and heath often cover coastal areas exposed to high winds. The ecoregion's shoreline supports large seabird colonies.

Special Features

Granite is the foundation of this ecoregion, which has been heavily sculpted by glaciers. The area along the St. Lawrence River is higher in elevation. The interior section is rolling and covered with soil deposited by glaciers. The island of Newfoundland has a hilly landscape with many rocky outcrops.

	Eiders are a kind of seabird found in the coastal areas of this ecoregion. The males' beautiful markings include a distinctive dark blue belly, especially visible when they are flying. These large diving ducks are well insulated against the cold northern weather with a thick coat of downy feathers. Females pluck some of the downy feathers from themselves to line their nests.

Wild Side

Balsam fir and black spruce are the most common trees of this ecoregion. In places that have experienced natural or human-caused disturbances, paper birch, aspen, and black spruce are typically found. The Lac St. Jean valley is a warmer area within the ecoregion and therefore supports slightly different plant species: sugar maple, beech, yellow birch, eastern hemlock, balsam fir, eastern white pine, and white spruce. The ecoregion provides habitat for many species of wildlife: moose, black bears, lynx, red foxes, woodland caribou, snowshoe hares, wolves, martens, beavers, porcupines, bobcats, rabbits, geese, ptarmigans, and ruffed grouse. Seabirds such as murres, terns, and puffins take advantage of the extensive coastal habitat.

Cause for Concern

Approximately 40 percent of the ecoregion remains intact. Humans have a long history in the area, and settlement has caused extensive habitat alteration. Coastal communities harvest wood for fuel, but the major current threat comes from large-scale logging. Peat collection is a localized threat, particularly in Newfoundland. Roads have fragmented almost all of the ecoregion, mining and mineral exploration are rapidly expanding.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.